Minimally Invasive Bypass Surgery

“I have talked with friends who have had the open surgery and they
all had at least six to eight weeks recovery time. I was at home and
within a few weeks and my wife was telling me to slow down.” - Richard
A.

What it is

A minimally invasive bypass surgery restores blood flow to the heart
muscle. This is done by using blood vessels from other parts of the body
to make a new route for blood to flow around blocked coronary (heart)
arteries.

Reasons for Procedure

Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries. Cholesterol and fatty
deposits build up on the walls of the arteries. This restricts blood
flow. When the buildup happens in the heart, it may lead to chest pain,
called angina, or heart attack. Lifestyle changes and medicines can be
used to treat atherosclerosis. Patients who have only one or two clogged
arteries may be candidates for minimally invasive bypass surgery.

Minimally invasive bypass surgery may be used to treat:

Severe blockage in the main artery or in several blood vessels
that supply blood to the heart

Persistent angina that does not improve with other treatments

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have a minimally invasive bypass surgery, your
doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

Infections

Bleeding

Stroke

Damage to other organs, such as the kidneys

Irregular heart rhythm

Death

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications with heart
surgery include:

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Talk to your doctor about your medication. You may need to stop taking
certain medication for one week before surgery, such as:

Blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin)

Anti-platelet drugs, such as clopidogrel (Plavix)

Diabetes medications, such as metformin (Glucophage)

Your doctor may also ask you to:

Eat a light meal the night before. Do not eat or drink anything
after midnight.

Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital.

Arrange for help at home after the procedure.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia will be given. You will be asleep during the
procedure.

Description of Procedure

A small incision will be made in the chest between the ribs without
dividing the breastbone. This allows the surgeon to reach the heart.
Then standard techniques are used to connect the prepared chest artery
or leg vein to the coronary (heart) artery that is blocked.

Immediately After Procedure

You will be monitored in the intensive care unit, where you will have
the following interventions:

Heart monitor

Pacing wires to control heart rate

Tubes connected to a machine to drain fluids from the wound

Breathing tube or an oxygen mask

Catheter inserted into the bladder

How Long Will It Take?
The surgery can take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours.

How Much Will It Hurt?
Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery. You may be given medication for
any pain during recovery.

Average Hospital Stay
The average stay is 3 to 6 days.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

To reduce the risk of fluid buildup in your lungs, you will be
instructed to breathe deeply and cough 10 to 20 times every
hour.

If a leg vein was removed, elevate your legs above your heart
while sitting. Do not cross your legs.

Efforts will be made to get you out of bed and walking as soon
as possible.

Dressings will be removed in a day or two. Pacing wires and
chest tubes will be removed within the first few days.

At Home

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

Take medicines as directed by your doctor, such as:

Antiarrhythmics

Blood thinners

Cholesterol-lowering medicine

Blood pressure medicine

Pain medicine

Follow your doctor's guidelines for caring for your stitches

Weigh yourself every morning

Be sure to follow all of your doctor's instructions

Recovering after Surgery/What to Expect

Every patient’s recovery can be different. You will need to shower,
daily, with a mild soap. Ask your doctor when it is safe to take a bath
or soak in water. You may find that there will be some areas of
discomfort in the area of surgery that can last for several weeks. Also,
it is common that you may feel tired for many weeks following this type
of surgery.

People with jobs requiring strong
physical activity may require additional time before resuming those
types of activities. Most patients can return to normal activities
approximately three weeks after the operation. Be sure to ask your
doctor when you can drive and return to work.

Preparing for your visit:
A checklist for patients

Hear from our patients

Many patients who come to the Steward Center
for Advanced Cardiac Surgery have a
story to share about their care,
recovery, and success after surgery or
other treatments. Read about our patients’
experiences.